Starting for PSG against FC Barcelona at the Parc des Princes this Tuesday, Achraf Hakimi renews his rivalry with Lamine Yamal on his flank. Luis Enrique and Hansi Flick have each laid out their equation.
The Parc des Princes is about to host a blockbuster on matchday 3 of the Champions League. This Tuesday, 20 October 2026 at 21:00 (19:00 GMT), Paris Saint-Germain, back-to-back European champions, welcome FC Barcelona. On the Parisian right flank, one man commands the attention: Achraf Hakimi, right-back and vice-captain, Morocco international, reported to start by World Soccer Talk.
Opposite him stands Lamine Yamal, the 19-year-old right winger for Barça and Spain. The duel is not just a sprint: both coaches have already set out their reading of the problem, and the treatment rooms have reshuffled the cards on both sides.
Luis Enrique wants to keep the ball away from Yamal
PSG coach Luis Enrique has revealed his recipe, according to Last Word On Sports: “The best way to defend against Lamine Yamal is to have the ball. If you constantly have the ball, Lamine Yamal doesn’t, and everything stays calm.”
On the Parisian side, Nuno Mendes, the Portuguese left-back, is out with a thigh injury (Last Word On Sports). Hakimi, for his part, was rested at the weekend: he only came on as a substitute in the 3-1 win at Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
Flick without Koundé or Eric García
At the other end, FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has to cope with a depleted centre of defence. Jules Koundé (left ankle sprain) and Eric García (right femoral injury, 3 to 4 weeks) are officially ruled out, The False 9 reports. Flick has however confirmed that Brazilian forward Raphinha will start alongside Lamine Yamal.
Flick also said, quoted by Goal.com: “We’re going to face the best team in the world over the last two years, and it’s a magnificent opportunity for us.” Barça arrive in full flow: TheScore counts 11 consecutive wins in all competitions, with 48 goals scored, including a 4-1 win in Istanbul against Galatasaray after a 5-1 victory over Feyenoord on matchday one.
A precedent and a Clásico lying in wait
PSG come into the game off a win at the Etihad Stadium: on 14 October, on matchday 2 of the European campaign, they beat Manchester City 4-2 (Goal.com). The two clubs already met in the group stage on 1 October 2025: that night, PSG won 2-1 in Barcelona (Last Word On Sports).
The Clásico against Real Madrid is scheduled for this Sunday, 25 October 2026 in La Liga, five days after this match.